Kingfishers and Cattle egret chicks

It was an exciting week with our confirmation of cattle egret chicks last weekend. We had watched them carrying sticks into the heavily treed area between Ramsar and Sand Martin hides in August. It was still their breeding season (which stretches to October) and the adults were still in orange breeding plumage. After hearing the chick noises for a week, we went to investigate. From the ground we could spot active chicks in each nest so backed off quickly.

Many visitors are capturing great kingfisher shots from Ramsar and Scrape hides this week - we still see them on Arun Riverlife lagoon as well. Thanks for the great kingfisher diving shot Alec Pelling!

Fewer gadwall in this week but we did have a flock of 34 lapwing in on Saturday morning.

We are also seeing a steady trickle of house martins, sand martins and a few swallows trickle through as they migrate south.

Wed 11 Sept

Arun Riverlife lagoon: 1 water rail

Pelican Cove: 4 mute swans (pair with cygnets), 2 tufted ducks,

Woodland Loop: 2 black caps, 1 chiffchaff, c10 goldfinches, 1 greenfinch, 2 chaffinches

Reedbed boardwalk: 1 water rail, common darter dragonflies

Reedbed Willow Sphere: 3 gadwall

Scrape hide: 2 Cetti’s warblers, 4 Canada geese, 17 mallards, 2 coots, 13 gadwall, 1 wood pigeon, 1 chiffchaff, 5 shovelers, 2 moorhens, 1 great tit, 1 greenfinch

Sand martin hide: 1 grey heron, 3 cormorants, 2 great egrets, 4 teal, 7 gadwall, 1 kingfisher, 12 swallows, 1 house martin, 6 snad martins

Ramsar hide: 4 cattle egrets, 1 little egret.


Tues 10 September

Ramsar & Sand martin hide lagoon: 1 great egret, 3 cattle egrets, 2 pochards, 1 cormorant, 26 black-headed gulls, 2 herring gulls, 6 Canada geese, 1 teal, 6 mallards, 20 gadwalls, 1 moorhen, 1 kingfisher

Lapwing hide: 1 great egret

Scrape hide: 5 shoveler, 1 kingfisher, 4 teal, 1 great white egret

Mon 9 September

Ramsar & Sand martin hide lagoon: 4 cattle egrets, 6 shovelers, 5 teal, 1 great egret

Lapwing hide: 2 blue tits, 1 carrion crow, 1 reed warbler, 1 robin, 1 chiffchaff

Scrape hide: 1 kingfisher.

Sun 8 September

Arun Riverlife lagoon: 2 pochards

Wetland Discovery: 1 carrion crow, 1 mallard, 1 wood pigeon, 1 chiffchaff

Ramsar & Sand martin hide lagoon: 3 cattle egrets

Scrape hide: 7 shovelers, 1 pochard, 1 water rail.


Sat 7 September

Arun Riverlife lagoon: 27 mallards, 3 coots, 1 Cetti’s warbler

Ramsar & Sand martin hide lagoon: 34 lapwing, 10 cattle egrets, 1 kingfisher, 1 common sandpiper, 1 great egret

Scrape hide: 1 water rail in pond as you approach.

Over the reserve: c80 house martins, c 20 sand martins


Fri 6 September

Ramsar & Sand martin hide lagoon: 21 lapwings, 6 pochards, 3 cattle egrets, 4 teal, 1 common sandpipers

Scrape hide: 1 teal, 1 shoveler

Wetland Discovery: 1 kingfisher

Woodland Loop: 3 blue tits, 2 great tits, 1 greenfinch, 2 moorhens with chicks.

Woodland loop: 5 mallards

Ramsar & Sand martin hide lagoon> c20 sand martins, 1 great egret


Sat 7 September

Arun Riverlife lagoon: 27 mallards, 3 coots, 1 Cetti’s warbler

Ramsar & Sand martin hide lagoon: 34 lapwing, 10 cattle egrets, 1 kingfisher, 1 common sandpiper, 1 great egret

Scrape hide: 1 water rail in pond as you approach.

Over the reserve: c80 house martins, c 20 sand martins


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